THE RUSH FOR LAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1913, Page 6

THE RUSH FOR LAND

RESULT OF THE BALLOTS. EX-MEMBER AND COMMISSIONER TALK. BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION PAHIATUA. July 18. Tlie ballot for the Mangatamoka block, comprising 1616 acres of fust-class dairying land, was conducted at Pahiatua today. Altogether 2662 applications were received from 372 applicants for the 22 sections offered. But of these, a large number were thrown out by the Land Board. The actual number of applications that went to the ballot was 1736. In the case of single men who had applied for -.notions. the Board rejected their applications for the first two sections they had applied for, and held them qualified for the remaining sections for which they had entered. This put the single men applicants, on the same level as those who had been twice unsuccessful at former ballots.

In reply to Mr B. B. Boss, ox-member for Pahiatna, who contended that the ballot was being illegally conducted and forecasted a Supreme Court case, the Commissioner declined to draw more than one marble.

Mr Ross said the Board was ignoring the law in not giving preference to married persons or those who for two years oast had competed unsuccessfully at the ballots. The Commissioner replied that the Board had been interpreting the law as it should be. He interpreted it in a liberal manner, and he was allowing the sons of a great number of people in tin's district to go to the ballot. 'Flic Board was not doing anything illegal, and if anyone was aggrieved they had their remedy. (Applause.)